Improvement in apparatus for generating carbonic-acid gas



2 Sheets--Sheet1.

JOHN MATTH EWS.

Improvement in Apparatus for Generating Carbonic Acid Gas.

Patented June 25,1872.

2 Sh t sh "2'. JOHN MATTHEWS.

in Apparatus for Generating Carbonic Acid Gas.

Improvement Patented June 25, 1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN MATTHEWS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT-IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CARBONlC-ACID GAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,234, dated June 25,1872; antedated June 7, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MATTHEWS, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forEvolving Carbonic Acid; of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to p the accompanying drawingforming part of this ures.

My invention in apparatus for evolving carbonic acid, applicable to themanufacture ofsoda-water and other purposes, embraces a verticalgenerator, .with a stuffing-box on top that serves both for the agitatorand a valve or valves, by which the marble dust is admitted to thegenerator in a gradual and showerlike manner at various points or placesof distribution, over a column of liquid acid of suitable strength,through which it descends. By thus admitting the marble-dust to thediluted acid the former is more thoroughly actednpon by the latter, anda uniform strength of acid is preserved. When, as previously practiced,the marble is first introduced, it is necessary to admit the waterbefore letting on the acid,

which latter is accordingly at first or for a While too much diluted.Furthermore, the agitator and valve above referred to, both beingoperated in commonthat, is, through or by the same stem or shaftnot onlyallows of the one stuffing-box sufficing, buta proper relative action ofthe agitator to the supply of marble-dust is kept up, and'a morethorough or intimate contact of the marble with the acid, as the formerdescends through the latter, is effected. The invention also embraces aperforated tubular step-bearingfor the agitator-shaft, in the bottom ofthe genera-tor, for-drawing off the residuum below.

The invention likewise consists in a certain arrangement of handles foroperating the valve that admits the marble-dust relatively to theopenings in the valve or valve-seat and openings through which themarble-dust and other ingredients are introduced, whereby said handlesalso form guards to prevent the last-mentioned openings being exposedfor the purpose of resupplying the generator when the valve is open,thus preventing-that is, by the closed position of the valve or closedcondition of the valve-seat-waste and back action of the gas in thegenerator on the marble-dust, causing the latter to blow or fly into theeyes of the attendant or otherwise. The invention furthermore embraces acombination, with a washer or purifier and the water therein, of brokenpieces or lumps of carbonate of lime or other material containingcarbonic acid, whereby less water is required to efi'ect the washing ofthe gas as it passes from the generator, and consequently there is areduced absorption of the carbonic acid; also the latter is made to passmore circuitously through the washer, and is, therefore, more thoroughlyexposed; and the. carbonate of lime in the washer takes up any excess ofsulphuric acid passing off in a free state; also adds to the carbonicacid. The invention likewise consists in a combination of a force-pump,as an integral part of the apparatus, with the generator thereof, forthe purpose of expelling, by forcing in water, the carbonic acid at ahigh pressure from the generator, and clearing the latter of gas.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A A represent the generator ofthe apparatus, the upper portion, A, being separated from the lowerportion, A, by a disk or diaphragm, b, which has openings 0 c in it forintroduction of the marble-dust and water to the lower andxmaiu portionA of the generator, and for the escape of the carbonic acid as evolvedin the latter. These openings 0 c are controlled by a revolving valve,B, carried by an upright stem or shaft, 0, said valve being formed ofarms or covering-surfacesof about or a little more than the area of theopenings 0 a, so that as the valve is rotated it opens and closes saidopenings. Any other suitable form of valve may be used.

The stem 0 is arranged to project through a stuffing-box, E, in the topof the generator, and extends downward to or near the bottom of thegenerator, where it works in a stepbearing, 13. This step-bearin g isformed of a tube arranged to screw or project up into the generator atits lowest point, and perforated, as at (Z (1, below its support of thestem or shaft 0, whereby all the residuum in the generator may be drawnoff from time to time, as required, and which a lateral arrangement ofsaid tube as a mere discharging device would not effect. Adischarge-pipe is connected with this perforated tubular step-bearingoutside of the generator, and the same fitted with a valve, 6, foropening and closing the discharge, as required.

The stem or shaft 0 is provided below with an agitator, G, so that thesame stem, 0, working through the one stufiing-box, IE, not onlyoperates the valve to supply the lower and gas-evolving portion A of thegenerator with marble-dust, but to simultaneously set in motion theagitator to stir up the diluted acid and marble-dust descendingtherethrough, and this in proper relation with the admission of themarble, the agitator stopping, when the valve B is at rest, over theopenings 0 c, and increasing or diminishing its action with the morerapid or slower rotation of the valve. Said agitator may be variouslyshaped or constructed.

The marbledust is admitted to the upper portion or chamber A of thegenerator by an inlet, H, and, as the valve B is rotated, isdistributed, at various points and in broken showers, through theopenings 00, descending through the column of diluted acid in the lowerpart of the generator, and the whole contents being thoroughly stirredby the agitator during such descent of the dust, thus bringing themarble into intimate contact with the acid, and expediting the evolutionof the gas.

Prior to the introduction of the marbledust the liquid acid is admitted,as by a tube or inlet, I, arranged to project through the upper portion,A, of the generator and diaphragm or disk b, and the water to dilute theacid is introduced, by an inlet or pipe, J, to the chamber A, at or nearits top, passing down through the valve, and washing out any remainingmarble-dust in said chamber.

The water may be forced in by a pump, K, that forms an integral portionof the apparatus, and which is more especially designed to expel, byforcing in water, the gas from the generator at a high pressure afterthe evolution of fresh gas has ceased. Said pump may be variouslyconstructed, but is here shown as operated by'a brake, f, and

as drawingin water'up one column, g, and discharging it down anothercolumn, h, to the pipe J, the valves of the pump being at i and j.

L is the outlet or pipe which conducts the gas as made to the washer andpurifier M, from which it passes off by an outlet, 70. This washer, inaddition to being charged with water, is also supplied with lumps, x .r,of car bonate of lime or other material containing m m, and these are soset, in relation with the valve B and the different openings throughwhich the ingredients are admitted to the generator, that they act asguards to check or prevent the opening of said inlets when the valve Bis open or apertures c c uncovered by it, thereby avoiding waste of gasfrom the generator and blowing or flying of the mar ble-dust by thepressure of the gas at or vthrough the inlet when attempting to admitit. Thus the handles m m are set so that they lie over the inlets H I Jand outlet L, or certain of them, when the valve B is open, or openings'0 c not covered by'it, thus making it inconvenient to get at saidinlets; but when the valve B is closed, then the handles m m occupy anintermediate position to the inlets, especially to the inlets H and I,as represented in Figs. 2 and 4, thereby giving ready access to saidinlets, or indicating, by the position of the handles, that the valve Bis closed, and that it will be safe to admit of a fresh supply ofmarble-dust, or otherwise establish communication with the exterior ofthe generator.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the valve B and agitator G with the stem or shaft0 and single stuffing-box E on top of the generator, substantially asand for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the perforated tubular step or bearing F with thestem 0 and generator or lower portion A thereof, essentially asdescribed.

3. The combination of the handles m m with the valve-stem 0, whenarranged in relation with the valve or openings 0 c in the valve seat,and inlets and outlets, or certain of them, by which communication isestablished with the exterior of the generator, whereby said handles aremade to form guards to check or evolving carbonic acid, of a force-pump,arranged to connect with the generator at or near its top, and formingan integral portion of said apparatus, to efl'ect the expulsion of thegas, essentially as herein described.

JOHN MATTHEWS.

Witnesses:

Trmo. M. TUTHILL, R1031). W. MOTT.

